This is a book that has been on my radar for the last year so was delighted to get the chance to read it before its paperback release.

The book is the story of two teenagers, Frankie and Zeke, whose paths meet one summer and their actions have resounding effects twenty years later. I flew through this one and it made my heart happy. I love Wilson's style of writing and this book was a pleasure to read. The book captures the feeling of not knowing your place in the world so poignantly and the power when you do. An original and warm take on coming of age and the consequences of actions, super characters and gorgeous writing. One for the christmas stockings this year. Recommend.

I know many readers loved Kevin Wilson's novel, me not so much, in fact for over 6o% of it I was wondering why I was even continuing to read it as I was bored, particularly with the 16 year old Frankie Budge, although it did eventually ignite some measure of interest. Frankie is a loner, identifying as a prude, leaving her cut off from other girls, leaving her feeling dull and invisible and at home, she has 3 older, larger than life, triplet brothers whose antics command significant attention . It is 1996, Frankie's dad has left and now has another family, including a child that has the same name as her, she is writing a draft novel inspired by Nancy Drew, but a long hot summer stretches in front of her, she is desperate, what can she do? When new boy, Zeke, comes on the scene, the pair from a strong bond that will have repercussions and an impact that will last their entire lives.

As they try to come up with activities to fill their time, they create a form of art, a poster utilising Zeke's artistic skills and with Frankie's words 'The edge is shantytown filled with gold seekers. We are fugitives, and the law is skinny with hunger for us', splashed with their blood that is to fuel a deranged obsession that will shape their future. They make copies of it, spending every day plastering them anywhere and everywhere in Coalfield, Tennessee, it is their secret. At first it becomes an intriguing mystery, but the poster art takes on a life of its own that spirals way beyond the control of Frankie and Zeke through the coming decades, sparking lies, panic, fear of cults, and death. In the present, Frankie is a author, happily married to dentist Aaron, with a young daughter, when a reporter calls her. Will her secret past become public and come to ruin her life?

What caught my interest was Frankie's return to Coalfield, where she visits her mother to open up about what happenened all those years ago, and tries to locate Zeke, to warn him. It is fascinating to observe the phenomenon of 'art', the creation of meaning for others, once it becomes public, it is simply not possible to control how it is received, its ability to transform, how it can go viral, the craziness, is used by, or profits others. However, when it comes to characters, Frankie is not someone who worked for me, although I was interested in Zeke's life after Coalfield and his mental health issues. As there are so many who loved this more, I would suggest reading other reviews if you are thinking of reading this. Many thanks to the publisher.

Now is not the time to panic is a beautiful coming of age story, in which Kevin Wilson has vividly bought to life an assembly of characters.

Wilson uses time jumps to create suspense and kept me engrossed in the lives he was creating.

I would loved to have seen what “after” looked like for Frankie in the hope that she could move on from that summer. Overall a great read and I would definitely recommend!

I really enjoyed reading this coming of age story. This is the first book I have read by Kevin Wilson, I would definitely read more. I was surprised by how deeply the book made me feel during and after reading and how it displayed the way things can shape us long after they've happened.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Now is Not the Time to Panic
by Kevin Wilson

This is my first book by this author even though I already own "Nothing to See Here", but just haven't gotten around to it yet. I really like this tender coming-of-age story. Frankie lives in Coalfield, a backwater Tennessee town. She is 16 and she really doesn't connect with any of the girls of her age. She is a complete outsider. Then she befriends Zeke, a summer visitor, and a bit of an oddball, and they strike up a friendship. She dreams of becoming a writer and he is an aspiring artist and together they create a piece of art and set off a chain of events that will define them both forever.

Twenty years later Frankie gets a call from a reporter asking questions about the Coalfield Panic of 1996 and Frankie's part in it. What now? What was the panic? How could the simple act of producing a piece of art have resulted in the unbelievable things this reporter is questioning? Let's find out.

So many themes to explore in this short, propulsive story; the loneliness of feeling like a misfit, the value of finding your own kind, the joy of creative collaboration, the everlasting connection of friendship, subversion, small town narrowmindedness. Others that are a bit spoilery.

Today I heard someone compare this book to "Forever and Forever and Forever", and although I didn't love that particular book, I completely agree with the comp. But I much prefer this one, And it has bumped "Nothing to See Here" up higher on my TBR.

Out in Paperback: 30th November 2023
Thanks to #netgalley and #textpublishing for the egalley

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